against the collar

against the collar

Difficult, exhausting, or problematic. The phrase originates from the collar on a horse's harness, which tightens on the horse's neck when it travels uphill. Primarily heard in UK. I was doing fine in the marathon, but it was a bit against the collar for the last couple miles. I don't think I have time to meet you today. Work has been a bit against the collar recently.
See also: collar
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • still small voice
  • still small voice, a
  • from the horse's mouth, straight
  • fo sho
  • fosho
  • Siberian Express
  • a baptism of fire
  • baptism
  • baptism by fire
  • baptism of fire
References in periodicals archive
The riyal stood at nearly 450 to the dollar despite a decision by the central bank fixing the exchange rate against the collar at 379.
You can tape tags to the collar so they don't dangle, or look for a dog tag "pocket" that holds the collars flat against the collar. Slideon ID tags are available from a variety of sources, including this one: tinyurl.com/ idtagslider.
VVULYSSES Sir Michael Stoute is a big fan of the righthanded round gallop on the Limekilns, which is particularly demanding in its latter stages out of Well Bottom as it's against the collar. The Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes winner made light of the incline in a solo exercise under Kevin Bradshaw as he builds towards the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in three weeks' time.
and Moringa oleifera L.) were evaluated against the collar rot disease pathogen
It was pressed up against the collar of his T-shirt, at his throat.
The increase was attributed to valuation gains in the government's holdings of euro-dominated assets in dollar terms due to the appreciation of the euro against the collar, the ministry said.
The packet cap is removed, the open end is placed against the collar and the probe drops in.
Stott smiled, nuzzling his face against the collar of his raincoat, ignoring the pain in his heel.
Try pressing your thumbnail, rather than the pad of your thumb, into the dog's ear (again, against the collar buckle).
However he barely got 10 furlongs on the Flat and I think he may well find the 10 furlongs all against the collar seriously tests his stamina in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle and I want to take him on with two tougher second season hurdlers who look much more blessed with stamina.
Every attack needs a cement man' a bowler who is always against the collar regarding choice of ends, slope and wind, and someone who not only still does a job but does so with never-failing cheerfulness.
A strong metal spring has been fitted within the housing, and as this presses against the collar, which is attached to the tubing, it creates tension.
"I used a three wood up against the collar of the rough on the eighth and it was pretty much the only shot I had.
In his 1990 autobiography, All Against the Collar, he claimed to be the UK's youngest trade union officer ever, described how he "saved" Concorde, scuppered an incomes policy and catapulted his union into the headlines day after day.
When flies clambered up the pedestal grooves and bumped against the collar, the goo on their backs rubbed off on this ring.